New hard drive - How to get OS loaded?

[Bad_Carp]

The hard drive on Pavilion dv7 crashed, it is damaged beyond repair...trash.

I have a new SSD drive I've put in, but with no ISO disk, how do I install windows 7 again?

[banhien]

@Bad_Carp 

Please use Cloud Recovery tool

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

Regards.

[Bad_Carp]

How can this work on a new drive with nothing to recover?

I can't even be online on that computer as there is nothing at all on the drive.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Bad_Carp 

The HP cloud recovery tool will only work on PC's made in 2016 or later, which yours was not.

If you can still read all 25 characters of the Windows product key on your notebook's case you can make your own W7 installation media by downloading the W7 Home Premium 64 bit ISO file from the link below--toward the bottom of the page.

You will need to have access to another working Windows PC for this.

https://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/windows-7-home-premium-free-download-iso-32-bit-64...

Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below that you will need to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable, or you can use a different free utility such as Rufus.

After W7 has completed installing you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-dv7-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/41...

Since the ISO file is a retail file, and the product key on your notebook is OEM, you may need to use the automated Microsoft phone activation system to activate the installation.

If you cannot read all 25 characters of the W7 product key due to them wearing off, you can order W7 recovery media from this vendor at the link below, since HP no longer sells it directly.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-21093-windows-7-64b-recovery-kit-616567-002-for-hp-pavilion-entert...